Heart conditions and stroke are the leading causes of premature death for women in Canada. Yet, for decades, most clinical research in this area focused on men. In British Columbia, researchers are working to better understand, prevent and treat heart and brain conditions as they affect women across their lives.
Robyn Jones-Murrell, senior vice president, Western Canada, at Heart & Stroke, says awareness of women’s unique risks for heart disease and stroke has improved, but many are still not being heard.
What disparities do women face when it comes to heart and brain health?
Robyn Jones-Murrell: For a long time, medicine assumed that if a treatment or test worked for men, it would work the same way in women. We now know that isn’t always the case.
We hear from many women who say they initially felt dismissed. They were told their symptoms were stress, anxiety or part of getting older. When symptoms don’t look like what clinicians expect to see, it can take longer to reach a diagnosis. That delay can affect outcomes.
Women are also less likely than men to receive some diagnostic tests or evidence-based treatments, and they tend to have worse outcomes after a heart attack or stroke.
Why do women’s risks get missed?
RJM: Women’s risks change across life stages and aren’t always well understood. Hormonal shifts during pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause can affect heart and brain health differently from men’s. Yet only 11 percent of women can name a risk factor specific to them. When women don’t know their risks—and when the health-care system isn’t designed to recognize them—it’s harder to spot warning signs, start conversations and get the care they need.
Many women also put their own health last. They’re caring for family, working and juggling multiple responsibilities, and sometimes they dismiss their symptoms or delay getting help.
How do symptoms show up differently?
RJM: Chest pain and pressure are common symptoms for both men and women. But women are also more likely to experience feelings like jaw pain, back pain, nausea, shortness of breath, indigestion, extreme fatigue and migraines. These symptoms don’t always raise alarm bells, especially if clinicians are still looking for “classic” symptoms.
Heart & Stroke is investing $15 million over five years in three national research networks focused on women’s heart and brain health. What role does B.C. play?
RJM: Researchers in B.C. are integrally involved. At the University of British Columbia, Dr. Lily Zhou is part of StrokeGoRed—a multi-year network studying why women often experience worse outcomes than men after stroke and how to improve care.
Another network includes work led by Dr. Jasmine Grewal at UBC and St. Paul’s Hospital, focused on cardiovascular complications during and after pregnancy and on reducing deaths and serious illness during that period.
What can women do to better understand their own risk?
RJM: Understanding personal risk is a good place to start. Heart & Stroke’s Risk Screen is an online tool that helps people understand their heart and brain health risks, including risks unique to women at different life stages. It’s designed to empower women to self advocate and have informed conversations with health-care providers.
For women entering perimenopause or menopause, pay attention to new or changing symptoms and report them to a health-care provider.
If something does not feel right, ask questions and advocate for yourself. Knowing what is normal for your body helps. And being persistent can make a difference.
To learn more, try Heart and Stroke’s Risk Screen at riskscreen.heartandstroke.ca.
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